Nov. 13, 1942 Waterloo’s 5 Sullivan Brothers Met Their Fate On The USS Juneau

78 years ago today, November 13, 1942, Waterloo's most famous sons were serving our country aboard the USS Juneau during the Battle of Guadalcanal when a Japanese torpedo struck the ship. All five brothers perished.

If you live in the Waterloo area, your heart should boom with pride every time the Sullivan brothers name's are mentioned. These five brave soldiers, George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert are the epitome of patriotism and selfless dedication to our country. Look at their faces in the photo, big giant grins, just beautiful smiles and full of life. You can tell they couldn't be more proud to be standing their together and fighting together.

Check out the moving letter to their parents from President Roosevelt...(thanks to our friends at the Grout Museum - click on "see more" below): The president said, As one of your sons wrote,

"We will make a team together that can't be beat." It is this spirit which in the end must triumph."

So did she get her wish? She sure did. The Navy names two destroyers, USS The Sullivans. On 10 February 1943, they assigned the name The Sullivans to a destroyer under construction...sponsored by Mrs. Alleta Sullivan, it was commissioned on September 30, 1943, serving until 1965. The second The Sullivans sponsored by Kelly Sullivan Loughren, granddaughter of Albert was commissioned on in April of 1997 with the motto of the ship..."We Stick Together." On the heels of Veterans Day, and with everything going in our country, this is a phrase we should all remember, "We Stick Together", damn right, we do.